An enclosed belt conveyor system has a rail track (1) and spaced apart carriages (35) that run on wheels (40) supported by the trail track. A continuous carry belt (10) is supported by the carriages (35) and has an enclosed configuration where the carry belt (10) encloses a bulk material for transport by the system. One or more belt guides (45) are positioned along the rail track (1) and engage the continuous carry belt to maintain it in its enclosed configuration.

An enclosed belt conveyor system has a rail track (1) and spaced apart carriages (35) that run on wheels (40) supported by the trail track. A continuous carry belt (10) is supported by the carriages (35) and has an enclosed configuration where the carry belt (10) encloses a bulk material for transport by the system. One or more belt guides (45) are positioned along the rail track (1) and engage the continuous carry belt to maintain it in its enclosed configuration.

A conveyor comprises a belt, at least one roller supporting the belt on a lower side thereof, the roller having opposite ends and a spindle at each opposite end, and a roller support for the roller. The roller support comprises a pair of spaced apart support brackets positioned at opposite lateral sides of the belt, a torque tube having opposite ends pivotally supported by the brackets, and a pair of spaced apart arms fixedly secured to the torque tube, one of the arms located near one of the opposite ends of the roller and the other of the arms located near the other of the opposite ends of the roller, each arm having an upwardly opening notch therein for receiving a respective roller spindle. The torque tube is pivotable between a first position wherein the roller supports the belt and a second position wherein the roller is spaced below the belt and permits sufficient clearance for the roller spindles to be lifted out of the notches in the arms and the roller to be removed from the roller support.

A conveyor comprises a belt, at least one roller supporting the belt on a lower side thereof, the roller having opposite ends and a spindle at each opposite end, and a roller support for the roller. The roller support comprises a pair of spaced apart support brackets positioned at opposite lateral sides of the belt, a torque tube having opposite ends pivotally supported by the brackets, and a pair of spaced apart arms fixedly secured to the torque tube, one of the arms located near one of the opposite ends of the roller and the other of the arms located near the other of the opposite ends of the roller, each arm having an upwardly opening notch therein for receiving a respective roller spindle. The torque tube is pivotable between a first position wherein the roller supports the belt and a second position wherein the roller is spaced below the belt and permits sufficient clearance for the roller spindles to be lifted out of the notches in the arms and the roller to be removed from the roller support.

A roller for a conveyor system comprises a nonlinear bore hole to facilitate retention of the roller on a roller-receiving portion of a corresponding shaft. A nonlinear bore hole comprises a central cylindrical portion for receiving a roller-receiving portion of the shaft and unaligned slots in communication with the central cylindrical portion to prevent migration of the roller from the roller-receiving portion.

A container transport machine for transporting containers, such as beverage bottles, cans, and similar containers, and packages of containers or other products.

A catenary idler comprises a cable, a plurality of bearing surfaces disposed along a length of the cable, and a plurality of rollers disposed over the plurality of bearing surfaces. The plurality of bearing surfaces are fixed to the cable. The plurality of bearing surfaces may be a plurality of clamps. The plurality of rollers are rotatably supported upon the plurality of bearing surfaces. The cable may be rotatably supported at its ends. The catenary idler may include a first compression spring at a first end of the cable and a second compression spring at a second end of the cable. The rollers may be formed of an oil filled nylon. A conveyor belt impact bed includes a frame, a plurality of catenary idlers supported upon the frame, and a conveyor belt supported upon the plurality of catenary idlers.

A draper belt tensioning system having a frame, roller, control link, and tension link. The roller is movable relative to the frame. The control link has a proximal end pivotally attached to the frame, and a distal end that is remote from the proximal end. The tension link has a proximal end connected to the roller and a distal end connected to the control link at a connection location offset from a control link pivot axis. The control link is movable between a locked position in which the connection location is on a first side of the roller rotation axis and the control link pivot axis, a centered position, and an unlocked position in which the connection location is on another side of the roller rotation axis and the control link pivot axis. The control link has a greater angle in the locked position than in the unlocked position.

A draper belt tensioning system having a frame, roller, control link, and tension link. The roller is movable relative to the frame. The control link has a proximal end pivotally attached to the frame, and a distal end that is remote from the proximal end. The tension link has a proximal end connected to the roller and a distal end connected to the control link at a connection location offset from a control link pivot axis. The control link is movable between a locked position in which the connection location is on a first side of the roller rotation axis and the control link pivot axis, a centered position, and an unlocked position in which the connection location is on another side of the roller rotation axis and the control link pivot axis. The control link has a greater angle in the locked position than in the unlocked position.

A conveyor conversion kit includes a plurality of conveyor brackets for converting a conveyor frame to accommodate a new conveyor belt. Each bracket includes a base, a plurality of wearstrip seats for mounting wearstrips forming a carryway for the conveyor belt without tools and side guard seats for mounting side guards to contain the conveyor belt on the carryway without tools.